Vapor electric conductor.



0. O. KRUH.

VAPOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1903.

91 6,79., Patented Mar. 3o, 1909.

/36 o o o /37 lnoentor:

Osas OCto Kruh, 'nu fl construction of apparatusof this character.

' artificial graphite, steel or other suitable ma- `tracted so as to form a pocket for the recep- 55 ing current to be rectified is indicated con- OSIAS O. KRUH, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION ASSIGNOR TOGENERA-L ELECTRIC COMPANY, OFINEW YORK.

VAPOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Application led. July 11, 1903.

Patented Marcitso, 1909;

Serial No, 165,053.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, OsIAs OTTO Kaon, a l' subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, A residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to vapor elec'- I tric conductors and more especially to an arrangement of vapor conductor for rectifying alternating current.

One of the objects of my invention is to simplify the arrangement and cheapen the To this end the invention comprises certain features of novelty which I have pointed out with articularity in the appended claims and Whic I have embodied in a rectifying apparatus described in detail in the following specification which is to be taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in Which- Y Figure' 1 represents a single phase rectifier embodying my invention and Fig. 2 athree phase rectifier also embed ring my invention.

The drawings are intended as illustrations of some of the many forms which my invention may assume in practice.

In Fig. 1 the envelop for the va or conductor is indicated at 1'. This cuve op is enlarged at its lower portion so as conveniently l to contain a plurality of electrodes 2,'3 of terial. These electrodes are supported by means of iron Wires 4 and 5 which in turn are connected to platinum leadingin wires 6 and 7. Glass tubes S and 9 surround the respective iron wires throughout their en tire length as indicated and are flared at their lower ends so as to extend over the tops of the electrodes 2 and 3.

The bottom portion of the envelop 1 is contion of a body of lmercury 10, constituting one of the main electrodes of the apparatus. i Electrical connection is made with the inercury electrode 10 by means of one or more leading-in Wires 11. The envelop 1 is also provided with a small pocket arranged adjacent tothe electrode 1 and filled with a body of mercury 12 which serves as a starting electrode in a manne-r resently to be described. The circuit supp ying the alternatventi'onally by the mains 13 and 1/1 extending from some source of alternating current. Across these mams are connected two 1nductance coils 15 and 16 in series with each other. Connections are made between the source and the rectifier as follows: Leads extend from the mains 13 and 14 and are connected respectively to the leading-in wires 6 and 7 communicating with the main electrodes or anodes 2 and 3. The circuit carryi ing the rectified current is connected at on(l end by a lead 17 to the junction between the inductances 15 and 16 and at the other end to the leading-in wire or Wires 11 which makes connection with the main electrode or cathode 12. In this circuit are connected any desired translating devices such for example as a storage battery 18, or electric lights 19 of any desired character such for example as incandescent lamps, mercury vapor lamps or the like.

In order to provide for startin the recti- Y fier thus described the starting e ectrode 12 is connected to one of the mains 13 and 14, in this case to the main 14. This connection having been made the apparatus is started by shaking or otherwise causing the mercury bodies 10 and 11 temporarily to flow over the bridge or r-.all by which they are separated. Vhen this is done, a circuit is completed extending from the main 14 to the electrode 12, then across the bridge of mercury to the electrode 10, thence through the circuit afforded by the vtranslating devices, or by a resistance inserted in place of the translating devices for purposes of starting and, after passing through the resistance or translating devices, is completed through the inductance coil 15 to the other main 13. The mercury vwhich completes this circuit between the electrodes 10 and 12 remains 5 but momentarily on the bridge 20 so that when it separates the current then 1 lo.f'infr produces an arc. This arc causes ionize mercuryvapor to be set free from the electrode 10. This ionized vapor, through the propagation of its ions in theI exhausted envelop 1, causes an arc to be struck between the electrode 2 and the mercury electrode 10, the circuit of which arc may be traced from the main 13 to the electrode2, then through the arc to the electrode 10 and,4 after passing through the translating devices such as 1 8, 19', to the junction between the inductance coils 15 and 16 and back lto the other main 14 through the medium of inductance coil 16. l/Vhen the rectifier hass been thus started, the two arcs from the g electrodes 2 and 12 te the cathode 10 mutudescribed, the arc from the starting electrode 12 tends to transfer itself to the electrode 3 which is electrically connected to the same 15 supply main as the electrode 10.` This tendency I purposely greatly increase byinserting in series with the electrode 12 an inductance or resistance 21 formed for example,

if a resistance, of a piece of iron wire. This resistance or inductance 21 causes the almost immediate starting of the main arcs between the main electrode or anode 3 and the main electrode 10 and after the arc has been started reduces the current flowing to the 25 starting electrode 12 to a negligible amount. Instead ofthe resistance I may however, if desired, use a mechanical cut-out, the solenoid of which may be connected in circuit withthe leadextending to the electrode 3.

In the foregoing description I have de- "scribed my invention as applied to a single phase rectifier but it is to be understood that its various features of novelty are applicable in other relations as well. 'lhus I may em-v ploy lthe same starting arrangement in connection with other rectifying devices, as for example the three phase rectifier shown in Fig. 2. In this iigure the three-phase mains are indicated at 22, 23 andv 24 and to these 40 mains current from any suitable. alternating source is supplied.. 'Ihese mains are 'connected respectively to the three electrodes 25, 26 and 27 of a vapor rectifyin device l similar in many respects to that s own in Fi 1. This device is provided with the ex austed envelop 28 in which the electrodes before `mentioned. are located. In the bottom of the envelop 28 .is a main mercury electrode 29 and a coperating starting electrode 30. In connecting up the apparatus theaelectrodes 25, 26 and 27l are' lconnected respectively to the supply mains 24, 23 and 22, while the coperatin(T main electrode 29 is connected to one end of a circuit, the outer end of which'extends electrode located adjacent to said vaportolsome one of thesupply mains as for example the main 22. The apparatus thus described starts up in much the same manner as that set forth in connection with the description of the operation of Fig. 1 andl 7.o therefore will be understood without further explanation. j

What Iclailn as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. The combinationv of a sourcev of alternating current, mains extending therefrom, a plurality of anodes connected respectively to saidniains, a cathode coperating withV said anodes, inductance coils connected respectively to said'mains and joined together 80 at a common point, a consumption circuit extending between saidcommon point and said cathode, and a single starting electrode located adjacent to saidcathode and connected to receive current from said source of alternating current. j y

2. The combination of a source of alter nating current, mains extending therefrom, a plurality of anodes connected respectively to said mains, a cathode coperating with said anodes, inductance coils connected 'respectively to said mains and joined together at a common point, a `consumption circuit extending between said common point and said cathode, a single starting electrode' con-- nected to receive current from said source,

and means for limiting the current passing to said startin electrode. y

3. The com ination of an exhausted en- J velop, a vaporizable electrode therefor, a plurality of nonvaporizable electrodes located in operative relation to said vaporizable electrode', and a single iiuid starting electrode located proximity to said vaporizable electrode and receiving current from the same source as oneof said non-vaporizable `electrodes..

4. The combination of an exhausted enve1op',-a main vaporizable electrode, a lurality of .cooperating non-vaporizable ellectrodes, and means for starting an arc between one of said non-vaporizable electrodes and said vaporizable electrode consisting of a starting electrode located' adjacent tosaid vaporizable electrode andre'ceiving current from the supply circuit of'said non-Vaporizable electrodes. l

5. In a vapor conductor, the combination of an exhausted envelop, a vaporeemitting mainelect'rode, a plurality of non-vaporiz- 120 .able electrodes, and means for starting current flow between lthe vaporizable electrode I and each of said non-vaporizable electrodes, said means consisting of a single startingI emitting electrode and fed from the same c source of current as the other electrodes.

6. In a vapor conductor, the combination of an exhausted envelo a vapor-emitting main electrode, a plura -ty of non-vaporizf 91eme able electrodes, and means for starting current flow between the .vaporizable electrode and each of said non-vaporizable electrodes, said means consisting offa single fluid-elec trode located adjacent to said vapor-emitting electrode and supplied With energy from an alternating current source.

7. In a vapor conductor, the combination of an exhausted envelop, a vapor-emitting` main electrode, a plurality of non-vaporizable electrodes, and means for starting current iloW between the vaporizable electrode and each of said non-vaporizable electrodes, said means consisting of a single starting electrode located adjacent to said vapor# emittin electrode and in contact-'making relation t creto. I

8. The combination of a source of alternating current, mains extending therefrom, a pluralit;T of anodes connected respectively to said mains, a cathodecoperating with said anodes', a single luid starting electrode adapted to make contact with said cathode, and electrical connections for supplying starting current to said starting electrode from said source of alternating current.

` and an electrical connection from said starting anode to said source of alternating current.

10. In a vapor conductor, the combination of an exhausted envelop, a vapor emit-V ting main electrode, a plurality of non-vaporizable electrodes, and means for starting current 110W between the vaporizable electrode and each of said non-vaporizable electrodes, said means consisting of a single starting electrode located in operative relation to said vapor emitting electrode and connected with a non-vaporizable electrode through current 'limiting means.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of July,'1903.

' .OSIAS O. KRUH.

- Witnesses:

BENJAMIN. B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD. 

